THE Hendrick’s Gin Palace opened in Girvan last week after a £13 million investment to expand and redevelop the distillery.

Family owned independent global spir its company, William Grant & Sons, spearheaded the plans to develop Hendrick’s new distilling home which now boasts a list of exciting new features.

It has a mysterious and enchanting walled garden which leads to a magnificent and imposing Victor ian inspired palm house. This is flanked by two botanical hot houses used to cultivate a plethora of unusual botanicals and flora from around the world.

There is an inner sanctum that is Lesley’s laboratory which features a curious flavour library, a lecture theatre that encourages scholarly learnings and a suitably stylish bar.

There are two stunning new still houses, including four Bennett stills featuring the original antique copper pot still hailing from 1860, and three precise replicas.

The new stills have been active for almost a year producing the same delicious liquid that tastes exactly like Hendrick’s did on the day it was launched.

An institution that prides itself on innovation, it now has an environment to exercise creative freedom to experiment and conceive new Hendrick’s variants.

Lesley Gracie, the master distiller for Hendrick’s said: “I’ve been distilling Hendrick’s for almost 20 years and during that time, my team and I have had the opportunity to explore and experiment on a small scale.

“However, I’m thrilled and excited to take full advantage of our wonderful new distillery and begin working on a line of experimental liquids, some of which will hopefully blossom into future releases and potential new expressions of Hendrick’s”.

Pamela Selby, the Global Brand Director for Hendrick’s added: “The Hendrick’s Gin Palace in its design and experience, is intended to inspire curiosity, open minds and serve as a platform for invention.

“It pulls back the curtain on the wondrous production method and showcases the many layers of Hendrick’s that it has become celebrated for, some humorous, others curiously intellectual, detailed and deeply meaningful.

“It represents the confidence we have in the brand that helped to kick-start the ginaissance and leading role it has played ever since.”